Philippe Dupuis has had his share of surprises in two weeks as a Maple Leaf.

The newcomer, by way of the Colorado Avalanche, was getting primed for a third or fourth-line centre’s role with Toronto, based on the positive reports about him from management. Rick Dudley and Dave Poulin, two of general manager Brian Burke’s lieutenants, liked what they saw of Dupuis in the American Hockey League a couple of years ago and then in a full season with the Avs.

Toronto was looking to replace the departed Tim Brent on the depth chart with someone familiar in the penalty killing department. But Tim Connolly’s arrival moved Tyler Bozak down to third line where the latter adapted quite quickly. Then Matthew Lombardi accelerated his return from a concussion, to the point where he’s expected to be in Thursday’s opening night lineup on third-line centre or wing. Darryl Boyce, meanwhile, who was in a role similar to Dupuis’s last season, did not let his first full year in the league go to his head. He fought through another injury, this time a broken nose, to challenge Dupuis.

By the end of camp, it seemed Dupuis’s status in the top 12 forwards was at risk or that his two-way contract might come into play on the farm. But Connolly, Bozak and Nazem Kadri were all banged up late in camp. And when Dupuis came in the MasterCard Centre Friday morning, he was assigned to centre last year’s leading scorer Phil Kessel along with Joffrey Lupul in Detroit.

“I was surprised, but I’m going to stick to my game,” Dupuis vowed before the match. “I didn’t think (the shuffle) meant something right now because we have a few injured guys and a lot of bodies coming back for the opening game. But I want to play well (on a top line) and leave a good impression.

“I’ve been practising with Mike Brown and Colton Orr (two bruisers who should give him lots of room to roam) and I think we have some good things going. When I go back with them, I’ll be comfortable.”

Dupuis has generated some scoring chances from his dogged defensive work, but had one assist in four games prior to Friday.

“That’s not the main thing they’re looking for,” he pointed out. “They want me on the penalty kill, to bring energy, be physical, block shots and be a safe player out there. If I chip in offensively, that’s great.”